It’s been quite the past week or so in my world.
First and foremost, I spent two days last week in Sacramento doing some, for the lack of a better term, lobbying on behalf of small, locally owned newspapers in California.
Going to Sacramento is always an interesting experience. For one, it’s such a different place than what I’m used to, including the fact I’ve always been a small town boy. But over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate cities, especially the offerings and just the “vibe.”
Since moving to California, I’ve spent a lot of time in San Francisco and it’s really a wonderful place no matter what the national media says. There are so many options and there is so much to do.
Sacramento is similar, but in a different way. Of course, the biggest factor is it is the seat of government in California. If you don’t want to be around government types, don’t go there. From the capitol to even the hotels, everything there is about government, especially this time of year when the wheels are turning every second.
But don’t get me wrong, that’s not a slap in the face to the government types. In fact, the people I’ve had meetings with in Sacramento over the past few months have been nothing but courteous, nice and willing to listen to us country bumpkins who are just trying to make our voices heard.
That’s the key to the entire exercise. People claim those in power won’t listen but that’s not what I have experienced. I sat on the 16th floor of a building with a magnificent view of downtown Sacramento and spent an hour with several other people making our points.
And we were heard.
You see, that’s all that can be asked because with almost any issue, there are differing opinions. The best you can hope for is people who are in the position to make decisions hear what you are saying.
And you have to understand — and accept — you aren’t going to get everything.
It’s an old concept called compromise that too many people today don’t think is important. Trust me, it’s not just important, it’s necessary. We all have our agendas and those who make final decisions have to separate the wheat from the chaff and come to a conclusion.
What has struck me the most in all of this has a lot to do with my past.
A great example of this is when I lived in Montana nearly three decades ago. Believe it or not, back then, the governor’s home phone number was in the Helena phone book. (Look it up, kids.) You could call the governor at his home and he’d pick up the phone.
Quite a few years later, I moved to Wyoming, which has the smallest state population in America, and it was similar. We went to a dinner at the governor’s mansion back then and I can say I got to know former Gov. Dave Freudenthal quite well.
But that was in Wyoming and before that, Montana.
California is a different animal. We are the fourth largest economy in the world. I read the other day how California has driven America’s growth over the past year — as it does every year. We just have a lot of people and a lot of business and a lot of everything.
So in my mind, I have felt that living in California and owning a small newspaper meant nothing. Why would anyone in the seat of power want to hear from me?
I carried that attitude for a while, but then came to the realization that, believe it or not, California is just like any other state. There are people in powerful positions and, wait for it, they pull up their trousers just like we all do — one leg at a time.
That realization made me begin to think that maybe, just maybe, people in Sacramento might listen to what me and several others of us had to say. That’s when I began my mission to at least be heard.
Just like everywhere else, it’s connections. I knew this person who was related to that person and knew someone who might be willing to listen.
And it worked.
For nearly a year now, besides this real job thing I have, it has also been my goal to work on behalf of many people who are in the same situation we are here at the Gazette. We play an important role in society and that is the driving force behind these efforts.
It’s about the journalism. Everything we do revolves around the journalism and keeping the public informed about everything from a major court case to civic groups putting on festivals. That’s what drives us each and everyday.
How to relay that to people in Sacramento has been the other driving force.
The answer is pretty simple. Get in the door and explain your position. Just like the rest of us, the people in Sacramento are human beings who have schedules and are willing to listen in their limited amount of time.
The key is opening those doors and I’ll give myself a little pat on the back on that one. It’s likely my journalistic instincts that keeps me hounding on people.
A little side note: I once worked with an advertising representative so obnoxious that people would buy ads just to get him out the door.
Maybe that’s why some in Sacramento agree to meet, and if so, that’s okay. I really don’t think that isn’t the case but you never know.
What I have found are people who take the time to listen to our positions, our concerns, our woes, our triumphs, and try to make sense of it all. Trust me, I can’t make sense of it all in many cases, but I give them credit for taking the time.
Many times, when I tell people I am going to Sacramento, I get, “I’m sorry.”
I understand what they are saying but I am now realizing headway can be made if you treat people with respect, don’t think you are right about everything and listen to what they have to say.
Sounds pretty simple, huh?
Actually, it is because it’s basic human dignity and respect, something that is being lost on too many people.
I don’t judge those in Sacramento by their titles or affiliations; I just ask they hear what I am saying. That goes back to what people should be teaching their children at a young age: simple, basic respect.
As we drove back from Sacramento, there’s no doubt I was glad to be out of the rat race. But the rat race has taught this old guy a thing or two and I firmly believe you can never be too old to learn.
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
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